CONDITIONAL SENTENCES
AND WISHES
Conditional Sentences
Situation If-clause Results Clause Examples
True in the Simple present Will + simple form If I don’t have to came to
present/ future (V1) class, I will go to Mall
Possible
future action
Untrue in the Simple past Would + simple If I were a president, I
present/future form (V1) would build a lot of schools.
Something
unreal,
imaginary
Untrue in the Past perfect Would have + past If I had studied hard last
past participle (V3) semester, I would have got
Talk about good mark.
what didn’t
happen
Notes:
Modals and phrasal modals such as should, might,
can, be going to can be used in result clause.
Sometimes should is used in if-clause. It indicates a
little more uncertainty than the use of simple
present.
Were is used for both singular and plural subjects.
Using progressive verb form in
Conditional Sentences
Even in conditional sentences, progressive verb form
are used in progressive situation.
Example;
True: It is raining right now, so I will not go for walk.
conditional: if it were not raining right now, I would go
for a walk
True: It was raining yesterday afternoon, so I did not go
for a walk.
conditional: If it has not been raining , I would have
gone for walk.
Exercises;
1. I (be, not) __________ a student in the class if English (be)
__________ native language.
2. Most people know that oil floats on water. If you pour oil on
water, it (float) ________.
3. If I (be) ______________ a bird, I (want, not)
_____________ to live my whole life in a cage.
4. Last night Alex ruined his sweater when he washed it. If he
(read) _____________ the label, he (wash, not)
_______________ it in hot water.
5. Jim isn’t home right now. If he (be) _____________ at home
right now, I (visit) _____________ him.
Wish
Wish is used when the speaker wants reality to be
different, to be exactly the opposite.
Wish is followed by a noun clause.
Past verb form are used in the noun clause.
Wish
“True “ statement Verb form following wish
A wish about (a) She will not tell me. I wish (that) she would tell me.
future (b) He isn’t going to be I wish he were going to be
here. here.
(c) She can’t come I wish she could come
tomorrow. tomorrow.
A wish about (d) I don’t know French. I wish I knew French.
the present (e) It is raining right now. I wish It weren’t raining right
now.
(f) I can’t speak Japanese. I wish I could speak Japanese.
A wish about (g) John didn’t come. I wish john had come.
the past (h) Mary couldn’t come. I wish Mary could have come.
Exercise
1. The sun isn’t shining. I wish the sun ______ right
now.
2. I didn’t go shopping. I wish I _________ shopping.
3. I don’t know how to dance. I wish I _______ how to
dance.
4. It’s cold today. I am not wearing a coat. I wish I
______ a coat.
5. I don’t have enough money to buy that book. I wish
I ________ enough money.
Let’s talk: Interview
Ask your classmates each questions. Use if clause and wish when you answer it!
1. What is something you can’t do but you wish you could do?
2. What do you wish you were doing right now?
3. What is something you don’t have but wish you had?
4. What is something that didn’t happen yesterday but that you wish had
happened?
5. What is something you don’t know but you wish you knew?
6. What is something that has never happened in your life but that you wish would
happened?
7. What is something that happened in your life but you wish had not happened?
8. What is something you have to do but wish you didn’t have to do?
9. What is something that will no happen tomorrow but that you wish would happen?
10. What is something you were unable to do yesterday but you wish you could have
done.
Example:
Ben: How are we going to Bandung tomorrow? Are you taking your car?
Phil: I don’t think so. If we took the car, we would have the problem of
where to park.
Ben: We could go by train.
Phil: If we go by coach, It will be cheaper.
Ben: The train won’t be very expensive if we come back the same day.
Phil: But it costs more if you get an early train.
Ben: OK. Have you got a coach timetable?
Phil: No, I haven’t. I could have picked one up at the travel agent’s this
morning if I had thought of it. But there are always plenty of coaches.
